“Practically perfect in every way,” is used in the movie Mary Poppins and is a definition that fits Miss Maudie Atkinson wonderfully. Miss Maudie is a character from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, which shows prejudice and other controversial topics. She is known for her sharp tongue that counters meanness, particularly those who spread it. For scholars, she can notably be used as the literary foil to Aunt Alexandra. Through Miss Maudie’s spunk, honesty, and wittiness, she serves to be an inspiration to Scout.
Miss Maudie is spunky and very unique compared to the other women of Maycomb. She has always been a proper lady, but has a nerve the other ladies on the street do not. Near the end of novel, Aunt Alexandra hosts tea where
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the women of Maycomb discuss events. Mrs. Merriweather makes a comment in which she tries to later deny after Miss Maudie confronts her about it. In response to Mrs. Merriweather’s denial, Maudie upfront says she does not believe her. Similarly, this presents Miss Maudie as different compared to the other ladies. On the day of the trial, a wagonload of foot-washers come into town; they pass by Maudie’s house. When they make a comment on her garden being vain Miss Maudie is proud of her flowers and quotes the scripture back at them. The defiant disposition of Miss Maudie frightens them into speeding up their carriage and displays her courage and defiance to the norm. When Dill questions Miss Maudie about if she's going to the trial, she responds with, “ I am not. ‘t’s morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman Carnival”(Lee 212). Everyone else in the town goes to watch the trial like a circus, however Miss Maudie is firm with her opinion of it. Equivalently, this only reaffirms herself once more as different from her community. Honesty is a trait that Miss Maudie has always shown throughout the novel.
At the beginning of the book, Miss Maudie talks to Scout about her father and informs her on facts about him that she was not aware of. Miss Maudie did not have to inform Scout that her father could play a Jew’s Harp, and was the best checker player in Maycomb. Furthermore, she told Scout that she should be proud of her father, yet that was Miss Maudie’s own choice to tell her these words. The trial created hardships on Scout through her father, and the truths from Miss Maudie helped her to develop pass them. Close to the end of the novel, she and Aunt Alexandra have a conversation about the people in Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra does not understand why the people in the town let Atticus hurt himself by defending Tom Robinson. Miss Maudie responds with telling her about the handful of people who do not judge and trust Atticus to do them right. Later, Scout becomes offended when Miss Maudie talks about behind closed doors who in turn goes, “Atticus Finch is the same in the house as he is on the public streets” (Lee 61). Miss Maudie does not think before speaking honest comments to people which only supports the fact that she is sincere. The honesty she gave to Scout helped her look up to Miss Maudie, and have both Scout and Aunt Alexandra better understand Atticus. All of these truths gave them something more to look around at, even if they did not want to at the
start. Miss Maudie’s wit is a humorous aspect that can be enjoyed. When Jem takes Miss Maudie’s hat for his and Scout’s snowman she comes out and calls for him to bring it back. During all of this, she is grinning. Atticus says that she is just fussing, and to ignore her. His comment begins lovable insults between the two. Miss Maudie catches Stephanie Crawford in the act of saying she is going to the Jitney Jungle which changes to the courthouse for a stop by. She warns Stephanie that Atticus might give her a subpoena if she is not careful. Miss Maudie then explains to the children that the reason behind this is that Stephanie might as well know enough about the trial to testify. When Scout asks about whether the rumors about Arthur Radley is true Miss Maudie tells her, “Stephanie Crawford even told me once she woke up in the middle of the night and found him looking in the window at her. I said what did you do, Stephanie, move over in the bed and make room for him? That shut her up a while” (Lee 60). These comments are rather hilarious, and show her amusing humor. Miss Maudie’s ability to come up with them is intriguing. Moreover, a part of the book to always look forward to. Throughout the novel, Miss Maudie is a breath of fresh air compared to the closed minded people of Maycomb. She has given Scout the truth about Arthur “Boo” Radley, and a new view on her father. The book has rather melancholic aspects in certain areas. Miss Maudie’s snarky comments give a bit of joy when reading them. Miss Maudie will always amplify these known aspects of her in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Miss Hancock is a strange yet charming character, who is classified as both round and dynamic. Miss Hancock is flashy, bizarre, with “too much enthusiasm.” But she is more than simply that. After a discussion on “The Metaphor”, she asks Charlotte talk about her own metaphor on her mother. Here, a different side of her is shown. “She
The book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee gives insight to society's prejudice against age, gender and especially race and how it impacts communities and individuals in a destructive way. Lee establishes how women did not have the same rights as men when she writes, ""For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she is a woman-" "You mean women in Alabama can't-?" I was indignant." The use of aposiopesis is effective in conveying how shocked Scout felt after hearing this discriminating rule. The hyphen also displays the way Scout precipitously interrupted Atticus in disbelief. This reveals how Scout knew if Miss Maudie could be on the jury, Tom might have been ruled fairly. It proves that gender prejudice made the difference
In To Kill A Mockingbird there is a specific character named Miss Maudie who shows a clear side of an innocent bystander by supporting everything that was happening with the trial involving a black man by the name of Tom Robinson having a white man as his lawyer by the name of Atticus Finch. Which back in that time the blacks were treated poorly, but Miss Maudie didn't treat Tom as if he was different. She
Frances O'Grady, the first woman to be General Secretary of the Trades Union of the UK once said "You just wish sometimes that people would treat you like a human being rather than seeing your gender first and who you are second." To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was about how evil human behavior can change people for the worse in many different cases for example Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Both were hurt by the evil doings of others around them. Boo by his own father and Tom by the Ewells and their supporters. Scout and Jem's father Atticus was a young black man named Tom Robinson's lawyer in the trial after he was falsely accused by the Ewells who said the he raped 19 year old Mayella Ewell. Sadly he was charged with rape and sentenced
Harper Lee’s story To Kill a Mockingbird includes lots of different characters, although not all of them as equally important. However Miss Maudie is a minor character that has an impact on the themes/morals of the story. Also, she helps develop characterization for our main characters. Furthermore, she helps contribute to the motifs in To Kill a Mockingbird. Therefore, I think that Miss Maudie Atkinson is a minor character who impacts the book the most in different ways.
To Kill a Mockingbird "I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them." – Miss Maudie The quote above states that Atticus Finch was a man who did unpleasant things, but this quote is false. Miss Maudie had every good intention when she told Jem and Scout this and her point was taken in the way she intended it to be taken by the children. Her point could have been better worded if the portion that reads "our unpleasant jobs" were replaced with "what is right." Atticus did unpleasant things only because he knew that they were the right thing to do. Miss Maudie told the children about their father in this way only to avoid saying that the rest of the town was wrong.
Miss Maudie has lnown Atticus Finch, now she has helped to raise Jem and Scout. Miss Maudie has always been there for scout, “I spent most of the remaining twilights that summer sitting with Miss Maudie Atkinson in her front porch.”(Lee 55) Miss Maudie took time out of her day to spend time with Scout when Jem abandoned her in his games with Dill. Miss Maudie acts like a mother would checking on the child and finding something for them to do. Miss Maudie also acts like a parent when she is asked a question. “Why, one sprig of nut grass can ruin a whole yard. Look here. When it
Aunt Alexandra recognizes Scout’s maturity when she invites Scout to a seemingly meaningless lady’s brunch. As Scout views the gathering,she understands that this is no ordinary brunch but it is a showcase of social talent. Scout remembers, “There was no part about it, I must soon enter this world” (Lee 267). In this quote Scout comes to the realization that being a lady is not only justified in actions but also in universally accepted social functions. It is here that Scout’s lessons in womanhood come full circle and she is able to embrace a part of her existence that she had brushed off for a long time. Mayella Ewell is a singular character that gives an important insight into understanding of lower classes but in a less literal sense she is an extension of Scout. Mayella is part of Scout that is arrogant,confused, and denies the truth of the adult world. As Aunt Alexandra constantly mentions, she will never befriend the Cunninghams “Don’t be silly, Jean Louise,”said Aunt Alexandra. “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines,you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem” (Lee 256). While in relation to Scout, Aunt Alexandra is portrayed as uptight, she is the ideal lady of
Scout and Jem still are unable to accept her and are detached from her strong traditional southern views. As a result Atticus receives many criticism the way he brought up his children and is forced to act. 'Our Father was actually fidgeting. "No, I just want to explain to you that--your Aunt Alexandra asked me...son you know you 're a Finch, don 't you?" (177) However Jem and Scout notices this and become resentful towards the changed Atticus. As Atticus struggles with the Tom Robinson case, Aunt Alexandra plays the role of their mother since they only have Atticus “I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (170) however she also knows that instilling manners and acting as the motherly figure was the role of a woman, during that time period. Throughout the book, Atticus has struggled with the job of filling both the father and the mother. No matter how hard he tries, the roll of the mother can never be filled by Atticus. His character does not have the same personality traits that a mother would. All Scout needs is a loving mother, but when Aunt Alexandra comes, she does not nearly fill that role. She is even harsher and the spot still remains vacant. "...you 've got to do something about her," Aunty was saying. "You 've let things go on too long Atticus, too long” (36).This quote shows how Aunt Alexandra is demanding and looks as if she is trying to be the stricter side, which I dont think Scout needs "Atticus, it 's all right to be soft-hearted, you 're an easy man, but you have a daughter to think of." (136-137)I think Alexandra is totally wrong here. Scout does not like to listen to a demanding person telling her what to do. Instead of listening, she will simply do the opposite. A less harsh and caring mother would give Scout something more to mature. Alexandra is really into
Clearly, Miss Maudie Atkinson proves very influential in Scout’s life. Scout learns many lessons and morals from her, which ultimately help her become a better person. The lessons and morals Scout acquires provide her with many of the tools necessary for success in life and for improving her character. Among many things, Scout learns from Miss Maudie that she should not judge people or believe rumors, act humbly about any skills she possesses, and always maintain a good and positive attitude. However, not only Scout can learn from Miss Maudie. All individuals can take a lesson from Miss Maudie and become a better person in the process.
Miss Maudie Atkinson, one of the Finch’s neighbors, had a house fire. Atticus (Scout and Jem’s father) woke up the kids and made them go outside, in case the fire spread to their house. While Scout was not looking someone gave her a blanket, “‘Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked.
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is an ideal father, who sets a great example for his kids. A picture of Atticus is important to Scout because Atticus teaches Scout many important life lessons about life. Firstly, as Atticus talks to Scout about Miss. Stephanie, he states “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee,30). Scout realizes that one can never feel someone’s pain, happiness, or glory until she looks at their point of view of things; she learns to consider other people’s situation and feelings. She also understands that she will never know what goes in other people’s lives, and therefore she cannot judge anyone. Scout matures as she learns to apply Atticus’ wise advice to understand Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley, who are individuals that are misunderstood by the community. Furthermore, as Miss Maudie talks to Scout, she states “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (Lee, 46). Miss Maudie knows about Atticus’ personality quite well. Miss Maudie explains to Scout Atticus is a man with moral principles, he does what he believes is right even if others are not there to praise him. Through Atticus’ exemplary role, Scout understands the importance of integrity, and strong moral values. Finally, when Scout questions her father about the possible outcome of the trial, Atticus states “simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to try to win” (Lee, 76). Atticus teaches Scout toleration, determination and moral courage. He already knows he is going to los...
“‘You want to grow up to be a lady, don’t you?’ I said not particularly” (Lee). Jean Louise Finch is a tomboy growing up in a world where a girl is expected to become a lady. Submissive housewives and proper ladies were the expectations set for women in the time To Kill A Mockingbird took place. Scout Finch lived in a household that had a strong male influence; aside from Calpurnia, she had no real present example of what she was supposed to become. Because of this, Scout refused to conform to the ways of the rest of the women in Maycomb and the world (Lee 84).
This quote is significant because it shows the gender roles that is used in the Finches home. After Aunt Alexandra came over to visit for a few weeks/months, many gender roles were changed. Aunt Alexandra felt like the head of the house, because she is trying to put the pride of the family back in her brother’s house. She was so consisted of changing the roles in the house. She wanted Scout to become the girl that every female should be, and wanted the family pride to once come alive in Maycomb, after Atticus made the decision of helping a black man. In her time period, female were discriminated and man were superior to women. Women were well educated back during the Great Depression, but wasn’t that superior to the men because they didn’t had their rights back there.
Sexism is not as common a topic in comparison to racism, but does play a role in the development of the novel. This type of discrimination is expressed towards women from men and women alike. Men feel compelled to protect women from unsightly things, (Lee 221), and the women in Maycomb have the mind set that, to be a lady, they must conform to society's expectations of them. They believe they must dress, act, and speak a certain way to appease the community. Aunt Alexandra is a big believer in acting the way society expects her to and attempts to impose these values on her niece, Scout, who becomes mortified, as she has always been a tomboy and prefers spending time in the dirt. “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my [Scout's] attire. She said I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed ...